The Cultural Association is a definition of voluntary activity for the benefit of our area.It was founded in 1998 and is located in the renovated building of the village's former priory school. Renovated in 2015, the modern building is representing the intersection of versatile events and is used by the members of the association, residents and visitors of our village.

Previous headquarter of the Cultural Association was the building of the forestry office of Kassandra, which also was used as accommodation for its employees. Out of frequent use, the house was placed at the disposal for free to the Cultural association of Kassandrino and as used temporally as office. In present time it still serves us as an additional basis.

Events – Activities

Gourounochara

The event is taking place at Christmas time on the central village square. The visitors can enjoy grilled meat and wine, generously served by the Cultural Association. The festivity leads into dance and cheerful exuberance.

Meeting the Santa Claus

Santa Claus is visiting the kids, delivering small gifts sponsored by the Cultural Association - a day with songs and joy for the children of the village.

Carnival

Completely unimaginable that the Cultural Association of Kassandrino would miss this fun if not participating on this event.The association is organizing the carnival festivity in the village as well as it preparing the decoration of the truck for the big carnival parade in the nearby village Polychrono.

Easter – the burning of Judas

Annually the celebration of the resurrection is followed the custom of the burning of the Judas. The children of the village collect wood and pile it on the village square on the opposite site of the church, where an effigy of Judas is positioned. After the 'Christos Anesti' (confirmation of Jesus resurrection on Easter) was announced, the puppet of Judas is burned. An additional firework provides additional dramatic effects.

Feast of St. George

Annually on the church holiday of the patron-saint St. Georg, one of the most famous celebrations of the Kassandra peninsula, is taking place at the tree-lined Saint's dedicated chapel. After the liturgy starts the actual celebration with plenty of grilled food, drinks, life-music and dance. People take great distances to join this all-day-lasting and boisterous celebration.

The feat of John the Baptist – Jumping over the fire

On 23th of June, on the eve of the Saint John's feast, a fire is lit on Kassandrino's village square. Traditionally the residents are jumping over the flames.The women of the village provide the participants by distributing homemade food as such as baked 'Pita's', Sweets and Loukoumades (a national version of raised pastries).A characteristic part of the St. John's eve-tradition is the lighting of several fires in every area of the village by the residents. The people usually use branches, reed or old baskets and everyone tries to light the biggest fire, where they have to jump over. The people also throw remaining rings from the May Day festival and St. John wreaths from the previous years into the flames. The ashes can be used to deter or divination. Often while holding a stone over their heads they jump three times over the fire – according to the entertaining tradition to become purified of bedbugs and fleas.

The tradition of lighting a fire on 23th June derived originally out of the very old and important midsummer celebration on the summer solstice.

15th August – Ascension

The festival, supported by the Cultural Association, takes place in the church "Assumption' on the central square of Kassandrino. On festival's eve, hundreds of faithful are walking a procession with an icon of Holy Mary. The procession is accompanied by the Orchestra of Kassandra. The orchestra, sponsored the municipality, also takes care for the entertainment during the subsequent boisterous celebration until evening. The cultural association and voluntary residents of the municipality ensure every the smooth and proper process of this event for facilitating a memorable evening.

Events in Mola Kalyva

Annually in Mola Kalyva an impressive life concert is taking place. The event is organized by the Cultural Association of Kassandrino. Various popular artists provide impressive sounds and a great show to fascinate the residents and visitors with an unforgettable evening.

The Trachana-festival

Annually in late August at the court of the village's primary school the 'Tranchana-festival' (English: 'Tarharna' – a dried mixture, usually made out of flour, yoghurt and vegetables) is taking place. The local women valorize their homemade Tarhanas with fresh ingredients. The festival is accompanied with music, grilled meat and lots of wine. The dance club of Kassandrino is presenting traditional Greek dances.

Further topics of the Cultural Association of Kassandrino & Mola Kalyva

In addition of the events described above, the cultural association is involved in organization and realization in plenty of other competitions and events which are talking place in the area.For New Year's Eve the cultural association is organizing fireworks. On this social event locals are gathering at the village's square to raise glasses and exchange Yew Year's wishes.The Association also makes it to its business to preserve national traditions and philosophical doctrines.The Association also realizes the 'go green'-event. On this project the association purchases flowers for planting it on different locations in the village in order to beautify the image of the landscape.The cultural Association also assumes the responsibility of various restorations and repaints in the village to preserve the charm of the village. The works vary from repairs over smaller restorations on the church as well as the painting of benches.

Contact:

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The content of this webpage is provided by the Cultural Association of Kassandrino

The history of the foundation of the village Kassandrino

Kassandrino was the first settlement on the peninsula Kassandra, which was rebuilt after the almost complete destruction of all villages by the Turks during the revolution of 1821. The survivors gathered and started to reconstruct the village 7-8 years after the massacres happened.According to the elderly the first house which was rebuilt, was the building of 'Agathokleikos paliosptas'. It was a square building with a floor-space of about 30 meters. The walls had a width of one meter and a huge fireplace. The builder, a man named Simonis Kyparissis, progenitor of a local vintner family, fled after committing a honor killing of a Turkish invader out of the area. He found refuge in the monastery of Saint Anastasia where he remained and worked for several years. He returned to his place of origin to build his house. More survivors followed his lead. Houses and wells were rebuilt and the village Kassandrino was re-originated.

About Churches, Saints & Ecclesiastical Events in Kassandrino

Church of the Assumption

The church of Assumption is centrally located on the square's village.The observance takes place annually on the 15th of August. It is one of the most important holidays in Greece. It is also one of the most celebrated events. In many areas of Greece it is also known as "Easter of Summer'.According to the legend, when the Virgin Mary came to know about her impending death, she went on a mountain to an olive grove to pray and to report to the Apostles. Since few of them were absent of Jerusalem that day, the scattered Apostles were taken by a cloud and brought to her. After her decease she was laid in the grave of Gethsemane. It's said, that after 3 days the grave was empty as the Virgin Maria have ascended to heaven.

St. Georg

Saint Georg is an area located in a small plain. The area was named by the small church of St. Georg which is located on a hill and surrounded by trees. Annually on the feast of St. Georg a mass is taking place. The ecclesiastical part follows a boisterous celebration with grilled food, drinks, life-music and dance.St. Georg (name day is on April the 23th) was a soldier in the Roman Empire and canonized as a Christian martyr later on. In the Orthodox Church he ranks among the 'great martyrs' (gr. "Μεγαλομάρτυς, Megalomartys and Τροπαιοφόρος, Tropaeoforos") and is one of the most famous Saints of the Christian World.His commemoration is on the 23th April. The churches which adjust their religious festivals to the Julian-calendar, celebrate St. Georg's day on Monday after Easter in case the festival is before Easter Sunday. Saint Georg belongs to the important saints of the Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Armenian Church.

Trinity (cemetery)

The cemetery of the 'Holy Trinity' – 'The Holy Spirit', is located on the edge of the village towards the neighboring settlement 'Mola Kalyva". The associated church festival is talking place on 1th of June. The Christian Doctrine describes the 'Holy Trinity" as the belief in one God within three appearances. These appearances or 'hypostases' are called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit as indivisible and consubstantial in God. According to this doctrine they share their power in one divine character. The doctrine of Trinity is one of the most accepted principles in the Christian World.

Saint Anastasia – Pharmakolytria

The Holy Anastasia is a martyr of the Orthodox Church, which is commemorated on 22th December. The title Pharmakolytria (Gr. Φαρμακολύτρα) indicates, that her person was requested in case of illness and for advice and treatment.She was born in Rome in the late 3rd century and was daughter of a noble family. Her father the Pretextatos, was an important man at the time of the Roman era and follower of the polytheistic faith. Her mother Flavia was Christian. .Anastasia was raised and christened by her mother. After her mother's death she was taught by the Christian mentor Chrysogonus. As Anastasia reached the marriageable age, she was married against her will to a Roman Publius. After the early decease of her husband, Anastasia devoted her life to the care of captured Christians. As her mentor was captured and executed, she accompanied him to the execution site. There she was taken also and subsequently sentenced to death.

The Prophet Elijah

The Ecclesiastical holidays of the Prophet Elijah is celebrated on 20th of July.

Elijah was born in the 9th century BC in het northern kingdom of Israel. His name can be translated as 'My God is Yahweh'. He is one of the major prophets of Israel. It is said, that on his birth his father experienced a divine appearance. In his vision two white-dressed man called his son 'Eliah', wrapped him in fire and gave him food. After this vision the father went to Jerusalem where he inquired the priests for an interpretation. They've predicted his son to become a Prophet and a judge with a double-edged fiery sword.

According to legends, Elijah predicted a drought of 3 years and 6 month, affecting the entire country and prevailed against 450 competing Baal-Prophets.

He is said to have predicted a 3 year and 6 months-long drought that affected the entire country and have prevailed against 450 competing Baal prophets.